Dispenser for sheets



May 30, 1939. F, 1 BROEREN ET Al.

DISPENSER FOR SHEETS Filed Feb. 18, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l DI SPENSER FOR SHEETS Filed Feb. 18, 1958 3 SheelZS-Sheel'I 2 iz/ Ve 7226 J Pager DIlsPENsER FOR SHEETS Filed Feb. 18, 19258 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 3o, 1939 2,160,412

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSER FOR SHEETS Frank L. Broeren, Neenah, and Archie S. Krueger, Green Bay, Wis., assignors to Marathon Paper Mills Company, Rothschild, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 18, 1938, Serial N0. 191,344

Claims. (Cl. 312-62) 'Ihis invention relates to a dispenser adapted particularly for use in the dispensing of interleavedfolded wa'xed sheets which by reason of their smooth surface must be firmly and evenly 5. retained in stacked formation during the dispensing operations, since they do not tend to frictionally adhere to one another but develop a tendency to slip or slide, which must be overcome in order to prevent displacement.

10 The mechanism of the present invention therefore makes provision for the confinement and retention of the stacked sheets during all stages in the dispensing operation, and also makes provision for feeding the stack of sheets toward the dispensing opening and properly positioning the sheets until thelast sheet has been withdrawn.

Further objects and details of the invention will appear from the description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser embodying the features of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmental side view of the dispenser with the cover opened,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 1. I

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the dispenser in opened position,

Figure 5 is a perspective fragmental detail view A of the latch mechanism,

Figure 6 is a fragmental plan view of the dispenser showing the cover in partially opened position,

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on lines 1-1 of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a sectional view similar to Figure 7 of a modied form of the dispenser, and

Figure 9 is a fragmental detail perspective View of the link bar hinge connection.

Referringto the drawings, the dispenser comprises a metal container I having a cover 2 hinged to the upper edge of the side walls I4A by means of pintles 21. The cover 2 is provided with legs or extensions 26 which are positioned inside the container adjacent the side walls I4, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, for hinging the cover on the pintles' 21. The legs 26 are provided with cut out portions 3 which permit the cover to be swung open to the position as shown in Figure 4, the cut out portions 3 serving as a stop to limit the outward swing of the cover 2.

'Ihe container I comprises a bottom I1, side walls I4, rear wall 2|, and front wall I3 preferably formed from a single metal blank suitably l stamped and shaped to form the container as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. The rear wall is provided with side flanges 33 overlapping the side walls I4 and an upper ange portion 30 having a supporting ledge 3l for engaging and supporting the edge IIa of the cover 2 in closed 5- position as shown in Figure 3. The rear wall may be provided with suitably shaped openings 4 for suspending the receptacle on brackets ,if desired. The upper portions of side anges 33 are prol0 vided with integral supporting wings 25, substantially triangular in shape as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The supporting wings are inclined slightly inwardly of the receptacle. The portions 25a of the supporting wings serve to support the l5'v edges of the cover 2 in closed position.

Side walls I4 of the receptacle extend substantially to the horizontal medial portion of the rear wall 2| as shown in Figure 4. The front upper edge portion of the side wall adjacent the front wall is cut out at 28 in the form of a quarter circle as shown in Figure 2 which mates withA a cut out quarter circle portion 38 provided in the side wall I6 of hinged cover 2 thereby forming an opening at the side walls of the dispenser for exposing the edge portions of the sheets within the dispenser as shown in Figure 1.

Side walls I4 are cut along lines 32a to permit insertion of portions 32 integral with the ends of front wall I3. The upper edge of the front 30"- The hinged cover 2 comprises a wall II which 4'0' forms the top of the dispenser, side walls I6, and a front wall Ill. The lower `edge oi front wall Ill is bent outwardly to provide a lip 22 as shown in Figure 3 spaced from'the lower lip 23 of the receptacle thereby forming a slot for dispensing 45 the sheets from the dispenser. Side walls I6 are provided with legs 26 as previously described for hinging the cover on pintles 21. Legs 26 are oiset from the side walls I6 to provide an offset portion 34 as shown in Figure 4 which abuts the 50 upper edges 35 of the side walls I4 of the receptacle when the Acover is in closed position.

Side walls I6 are cut along lines 31 to permit insertion of the portions 35 which are integral with the ends of the front wall I0. This con- 55 struction permits wall I to incline rearwardly as shown in Figure 3.

In order to releasably lock the hinged cover 2 a. pivoted plate member 80 is provided on the rear wall 2| of the dispenser. For suitably supporting the pivoted plate there is provided a plate 88a which is fixedly welded to the wall 2| of the container as shown in Figure 4. The plate 80a carries a pin 84 on which is pivoted the plate member 80. 'I'he pivoted plate member is made from an integral metal plate shaped to provide a latch handle 8I for manually oscillating the plate on its pivot, an upper tongue portion 82, a lower tongue portion 83, and a foot portion 86. The pivoted plate member is Vpositioned'on pin 84 so as to permit latch handle 8| to extend through the opening 90 provided in the flange portion 30 as shown in Figure 5 The opening 90 is elongated in shape having rounded ends 9| and 92 which serve to limit the movementeoflatch handle.. 8| in both directions. As shown inFigure 4, the pivoted member 8|)Y is eccentrically pivoted on pin 8.4 adjacent one end so. that the weight of the member due to its elongated shape .including the, leg portion 86, tends to move the member normally tothe position shown in Figures 4 and 5 until latch handle 8| abuts the end82 of the slot 98. e

When the cover 2 is moved into closed position a lug 10. provided inside the top wall vI| contacts the curved portion 82a, of the upper tongue 82, thereby moving the tongue 82 to. the left of the position shown in Figure 5,v until lug .'10, moves past the tip of the tongue. At this` point the Weight of pivoted plate 80. will cause it to return to its initial position so that tongue. 82 will interlock with lug 'I0 thereby locking the hinged cover 2.. When it is desired. to open cover 2 the latch handle 8;Iy is moved to the left from the position shown in Figure 1, thereby releasing lug 10 from tongue 82 so as to permit the cover 2 to be swung open.

In order to position the stack of sheets Withinthe dispenser in proper relation to the dispensing; slot a follower plate- 40 is'provided which is urged toward' the dispensing slot by spaced upper and lowery linkv bars 45 one end-ofeach bar being pivoted to the-rear wall; 2|. ofthe dispenser. For retainingVv the rearV end of link bars 45, plates '60 are affixed tothe rearwall 2I- by rivets 6| as shown in Figure 9. Plates 60 are provided with perforated ears- 65 and 66 adapted toY engager flanges 53..: and 54 provided` on links 45 which are retained in position byV a cotter pin 6:1. A coil spring 6,4 is providedonthe shank ofcotter pin '631 havingone end- 6.3 retained by portion 62 integral with; plate 60 and the other end I8 bearingagainst link-45. YPortions 68 at the end of link bars 45,- are bent back to provide space for springs 64 Spr-ings 64 urge link bars 451 toward the: dispensing opening. The other endf of each link 45- isv provided with a slot 44 adaptedv to slidably receive lugs 4-I and 42 integral with followerv plate 48 from which they are punched' out; The-outerV ends ofthe link bars arecurved in order to' reduce; their friction against the pusher plate 40. As shown in Figures 2, 4, and 7, the lower end portion 41V of the link bars is slightly offset from the body offlink bar 45 so that. only theend portion 41 contacts the follower plate 40 whenV lugs4I and 42 are positioned at the outer end of the slots 44. as shown in Figures 2 and 7. In this position the end portion 46 the link bar 45 does not contact the follower plate 40. Y

A U-shaped retaining member 43 is welded to the medial portion of follower plate 40 as shown in Figure 3. Member 43 serves to retain the follower plate 40 in its rearmost position in the dispenser when it is desired to refill the dispenser with a new stack of sheets. When the follower plate is manually moved toward the rear wall ZI, the member 43 contacts the lower hook 83 on pivoted plate 80, thereby swinging pivoted plate member 80 to the right. When the tip of the hook 83 slides past the edge of member 43 it swings back in locking position as shown in Figure thereby retaining the follower plate adjacent the rear wall 2I.`

After the stack of sheets is placed within the receptacle I, the hinged cover is swung into closed position. Lug 'I8 on the inside of the top II will then contact upper hook 82 causing plate 80 to swing to the left of the position shown in Figure 5 and in the direction as indicated by dotted arrow in Figure 6. Hook'83 will then be automatically released from the U-shaped member 43 thereby allowing the follower plate to urge forwardly the stack of sheets toward the dispensing opening. At the same time hook 82 will move into engagement with lug 'I0 thereby locking the hinged Vcover in closed position.

The follower plate 40 is preferably V-shaped in cross-section as shown in Figure 3 so as to have a contour substantially complemental to the combined sectional contour of the front panels I8 and I3, these panels being inclined inwardly toward the rea-r wall as shown in Figure 3. Follower plate 40 isprovided with: an upper flange 50 for retaining the upper edge of the stack of sheets in the dispenser. Follower plate 40 is also provided with a lower foot portion 5I which ispositioned between the spaced ribs I8 as shown in Figure '7. Foot portion 5I4 serves to engageY the lower edge portions of the sheets and prevents the rearmostzsheets from binding or slipping beneath the follower plate. A s shown in Figure '7 the lower' edges of the follower plate slide on the spaced ribs I8 on the-bottom of the dispenser thereby minimizing frictional contact.

It is advantageous to construct the dispenser as Apreviously described so that the rear wall 2| tilts slightly rearwardly past the vertical plane of the' dispenser as shown in Figure 3. Topwall II is also displaced rearwardly as compared with thel bottom wallI I1, so as to throwthe weight of thedispenser toward the rear wall. ThisV construction is advantageous in overcoming4 tipping over o f the dispenser when vthe sheets are removed through the dispensing opening, as` the center of gravity of theA dispenser is located closer to the rear wall- 2| ofthe dispenser than to the front wall.

Figure 8 illustrates a modified form of the dispenser wherein the cross-sectional dimension of they dispenserV is elongated compared-with the sectional contour of the dispenser illustrated in Figure l. In this construction the follower plate 48 is carried byfa' pair of upper and lower linl:v bars 44 having a construction similar to the link bars shown in-Figure-lz This construction serves to guide the follower plate 40 evenly and smoothly within the dispenser.

It is obvious that numerous changes and modications may be made in the construction utilizing the essential principles of the invention which are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention isv primarily designed to meet the special requirements involvedV inthe even and uniform feeding of waxed paper sheetsl in interleaved rela-r tion to one another in a stack, nevertheless, the mechanism is well adapted to the feeding of sheets of ordinary unwaxed paper, which may be used either as wrappers or as napkins, towels, toilet sheets or the like.

We claim:

1. A dispenser for folded sheets, comprising a container for receiving a stack of sheets, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, a cover hinged to said container, a lug member provided on said cover, said cover terminating short of the upper edge of the front wall when in closed position thereby providing an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets, a follower plate hinged to the rear wall and adapted to bear against the stack of sheets for urging the stack toward said slot, said follower plate being provided with a retaining member on its rear face, a gravity actuated plate member pivoted on the rear wall of the receptacle, said plate member being provided witha handle for manually oscillating same, a slot in said container for accommodating the free end of said handle, an upper hook member on said plate member for engaging the lug member on said cover for releasably locking the cover in closed position, a lower hook portion integral with said plate member for engaging the retaining member on the rear face ofthe follower plate for retaining the same in retracted position, the lug on the cover contacting the said upper hook member for automatically releasing the follower plate upon closing the said cover.

2. A dispenser for folded sheets, comprising a container for receiving a stack of sheets, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a

front wall and a rear wall, a cover hinged to said container, a lug member pro-vided on said cover, said cover terminating short of the upper edge of the front wall when in closed position thereby providing an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets, a follower plate hinged to the rear wall and adapted to bear against the stack of sheets for urging the stack toward said slot, said follower plate being provided with a retaining member on its rear face, a gravity actuated plate member pivoted on the rear wall of the receptacle, said plate member being provided with a handle for manually oscillating same, a slot in said container for accommodating the free end of said handle, spaced upper and lower hook portions on said plate member extending within the receptacle, a foot portion at the periphery of said pivoted plate member for weighting said plate member so as to swing the plate member gravitationally on its pivot, said upper hook portion being adapted to releasably engage the lug member on said cover for retaining the cover in locked position, the said lower hook portion being adapted to engage the retaining member on the rear face of the follower plate for retaining same in retracted rearmost position within the dispenser and automatically releasing same upon closing the said cover.

3. A dispenser for folded sheets, comprising a container for receiving a stack of sheets, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, a cover hinged to said container, a lug member provided on said cover, said cover terminating short of the upper edge of the front wall when in closed position thereby providing an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets, a follower plate hinged to the rear wall adapted to bear against the stack of sheets for urging the stack toward said slot, said follower plate being provided with a retaining member on its rear face, an eccentrically pivoted plate member provided on the inner side` of the rear wall of said receptacle, said plate member being provided with a handle for manually oscillating same, a slot in said container for accommodating the free end of said handle, an upper hook member on said plate member for engaging the lug member on said cover for releasably locking the cover in closed position, a lower hook portion integral with said plate member for engaging the retaining member on the rear face of the follower plate for retaining the same in retracted position, the lug on said cover contacting the said upper hook portion for automatically re leasing the follower plate upon closing the said cover.

4. A dispenser for folded sheets, comprising a container for receiving a stack of sheets, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, a flange portion provided at the upper portion of said rear wall, said flange portion being provided with a slot for receiving a latch handle and limiting the movement of same, a cover hinged to said container, a lug member provided on said cover, said cover terminating short of the upper edge of the front wall when in closed position thereby providing an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets, a follower plate hinged to the rear wall and adapted to bear against the .stack of sheets for urging the stack toward said slot, said follower plate being provided with a retaining member on its rear face, a gravity actuated plate member pivoted on the rear wall of said receptacle, said plate member being provided with spaced upper and lower hook portions extending within the receptacle and a latch member extending upwardly through the said slot provided in the upper flange portion of the rear wall of the receptacle, said latch handle being manually actuated for releasing the hinged cover, said upper hook memberbeing adapted for engaging the lug member on said cover for releasably locking the cover in closed position, said lower hook portion being adapted for engaging the retaining member on the rear face of the follower plate for retaining the same in retracted position and for automatically releasing the follower plate upon closing the said cover.

5. A dispenser for folded sheets, comprising a container for receiving a stack of sheets, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, said side walls extending substantially to the horizontal medial plane of the dispenser, a cover hinged to said side walls, said cover being provided with leg portions integral therewith, said leg portions being pivoted at one end thereof to said side walls and extending within the receptacle, said cover terminating short of the upper edge of the front wall when in closed position thereby providing an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets.

6. A dispenser for folded sheets comprising a container for receiving a stack of sheets, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, spaced ribs provided in the said bottom wall, said ribs being adapted to support the stack of sheets in spaced relation above the said bottom wall, and a follower plate hinged to the rear wall and adapted to bear against the stack of sheets, said follower plate having a foot portion positioned between the` ribs in the bottom wall of the receptacle and extending toward the front wall of the receptacle for'guiding the follower plate and supporting the lower edge portions of the rearmost sheets in the stack, said cover terminating short of the upper edge of the front wall whenl in closedV position thereby providing an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets.

7. A dispenser for folded sheets, comprising a container for receiving a stack of sheets, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, spaced ribs provided in the said bottom wall, and a follower plate hinged to the rear wall adapted to bear against the stack of sheets, said follower plate having an upper flange portion adapted for engaging the upper rear edge portion of the stack of sheets and a foot portion extending toward the front wall of the receptacle and guided by the spaced ribs and positioned therebetween, said foot portion being adapted to support the lower 'edge portions of the rearmost sheets in the stack, said cover terminating short of the upper edge of the front wall when in closed position thereby providing an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets.

8. A dispenser for folded sheets, comprising a container for receiving a stack of sheets, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, a cover hinged to f said receptacle comprising a top wall, side walls front wall when in closed position and being Y bent outwardly to provide a lip portion adjacent said first lip portion and spaced therefrom to provide an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets.

9. A dispenser for folded sheets, comprising a container forreceiving a stack ofA sheets, said container comprising rear, front, bottom and side walls, a cover hinged to said container, said cover terminating short of the upper edge of the front wall when in closed position thereby providing an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets one at a time, a follower plate within the container adapted to bear against the rear of the stack of sheets for urging the stack toward said slot, said follower plate being urged forwardly by spaced link bars, one end of said link bars being pivoted to the rear wall of said container, the other end of said link bars being slotted for slidably receiving lug portions provided in the rear face of said follower plate and curved to reduce the bearing surface of same against the follower plate, and means for yieldingly urging said link bars toward the said slot.

10. A dispenser for folded sheets, comprising a container for receiving a stack of sheets, said container comprising rear, front, bottom and side walls, a cover hinged to said container, said cover terminating short of the upper edge of the front wall when in closed position thereby providing an elongated slot for withdrawal of the sheets one at a time, a follo-wer plate within the container adapted to bear against the rear of the stack of sheets forurging the stack toward said slot, said lfollower' plate being urged forwardly by spaced link bars, one end of said link bars beingpivoted to the rear wall of said container, the other end of said link bars being slotted for slidably receiving lug portions provided in the rear face of said follower plate, the portions of each link bar above and below the slot being curved, said lower portion of each link bar being offset and out of alignment with the said upper portion, thereby reducing frictional contact of said forward end of the link bars against the follower plate, and means for yieldingly urging said link bars toward the said slot.

FRANK L. BROEREN. ARCHIE S. KRUEGER. 

